Rio Tinto Stadium, Sandy, UT – Real Salt Lake put on a dominant performance with ninety minutes of high energy soccer to get a clean sheet and 3 points and sending Minnesota packing with nothing to show for their effort. The home club started the scoring early with an early goal from Sergio Cordova. The guys didn’t let up and were able to double their lead with a strike from Jefferson Savarino with the insurance and final goal coming off sub Anderson Julio to end the scoring and secure the win. With the win tonight RSL they stay in 6th place in the West just 2 points shy of Minnesota’s current 2nd slot.
The action started early with RSL having their first chance on their first trip down the field. It was just the 7th minute when Sergio Cordova was gifted a failed clearance he took one step with the ball and slotted it right past Dayne St. Clair. This is Cordova’s fourth goal in five games and his eighth for the season. There was no letup from the Claret and Cobalt following the goal and Aaron Herrera streaking up the side and his cross found Jefferson Savarino who doubled the RSL lead in the 23rd minute. The half was not only an offensive clinic but the defense kept Minnesota on their heels for the full 45 minutes.
When play resumed so did the intensity of for Real. Minnesota United was held to just 4 shots their entire night with no shots on frame with fantastic defensive play from the full back line for RSL. The icing on the cake came in the 71st minute with a breakaway from Anderson Julio who drew St. Clair out of the goal and easily finished to put the final goal on the board. With tonights win RSL returns to their winning ways at the Riot and with only 3 home games remaining it is very important to hold on if there is any chance at home field advantage in the playoffs.
With only six matches remaining RSL sits in 6th place in the West however the intensity of the season just keeps coming. Matches against LAFC, Austin, LA Galaxy and Portland will put a lot of pressure on the boys to get results in the homestretch.
With Justen Glad’s yellow card he will miss the upcoming match at LAFC. Tonight was the 14th straight sell out at he RioT, selling out every match since the new ownership arrived. RSL has a quick turn around as they travel to Los Angeles to meet up with LAFC at Banc of California Stadium Saturday, September 4th. The next home match is September 10th when David Ochoa returns to the RioT with his new club DC United.
Goals by Period 1 2 F
Real Salt Lake 2 1 3
Minnesota United 0 0 0
Scoring Summary
RSL – Sergio Cordova – 7′
RSL – Jefferson Savarino – 23′
RSL – Anderson Julio – 79′
Misconduct Summary
RSL – Jasper Loffelsend – 20′ – unsporting behavior
MNU – Alan Benitez – 32′ – unsporting behavior
RSL – Justen Glad – 39′ – unsporting behavior
Officials
Referee: Drew Fischer
Assistant Referee: Logan Brown
Assistant Referee: Eduardo Jeff
4th Official: Brad Jensen
Video Assistant Referee: Michael Radchuk
AVAR: Craig Lowry
Attendence: 20,358
Lineups
Real Salt Lake: Zac MacMath; Andrew Brody; Justen Glad; Aaron Herrera; Marcelo Silva; Justin Meram (Rubio Rubin, 60′); Scott Caldwell (Nick Besler, 81′); Maikel Chang (Bryan Oviedo, 60′); Jasper Loffelsend; Sergio Cordova (Anderson Julio, 71′); Jefferson Savarino (Diego Luna, 81′)
Substitutes Not Used: Johan Kappelhof; Bode Hidalgo; Tate Schmitt; Tomas Gomez
Head Coach: Pablo Mastroeni
Minnesota United: Dayne St. Clair (Tyler Miller, 46′); Alan Benitez (Oniel Fisher, 46′); Brent Kallman; Michael Boxall; Jonathan Gonzalez; Joseph Rosales (Kevin Arriaga, 69′); Wil Trapp; DJ Taylor; Abu Danladi (Robin Lod, 46′); Bangokuhle Hlongwane; Mender Garcia (Luis Amarillo, 60′)
Substitutes Not Used: Franco Fragapane; Niko Hansen; Nabi Kibunguchy; Fred Emmings
Head Coach: Adrian Heath